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Ampeg V-4B for home recording. Total noob here
- Thread starter Y_S_Rickenbach
- Start date
Why use an amp for recording? modelers sound great and don't actually amplify. Many folks would be shocked at the high number of bass parts on major albums throughout history that were just a DI, no amp at all, no effects often, and then the magic was done in the mixing stage. And over the past 15 or so years, modelers have been used for a ton of major records, on bass and on guitar.
Personally I use a helix for all of my recording and live work now, on bass, on guitar, on violin, as a recording interface, everything.
Personally I use a helix for all of my recording and live work now, on bass, on guitar, on violin, as a recording interface, everything.
@dkelley
So, I own a Helix, and it does a great job as a platform for recording, but the sim just doesn’t do it for me. However, to answer your question:
I record with my V4B because it’s a perfect way to get both a direct line from the amp’s D/I as well as a line from a mic’d cab (usually my 212). I then blend and mix those two tracks to get the bass sound I prefer. My helix just can’t give me that same depth, IMO.
So, I own a Helix, and it does a great job as a platform for recording, but the sim just doesn’t do it for me. However, to answer your question:
I record with my V4B because it’s a perfect way to get both a direct line from the amp’s D/I as well as a line from a mic’d cab (usually my 212). I then blend and mix those two tracks to get the bass sound I prefer. My helix just can’t give me that same depth, IMO.
Step back, all y'all, I'll handle this. 
"Why use an amp for recording?"
1. volume;
2. tone;
3. interaction between amp, bass and player; and,
4. sound.
I get what I think are great results goin' DI, through pre's (The Brick, Meeks, Summit, etc.) and FX pedals and modelers (Tech 21, Vox, Zoom, etc.) and other gear (example - record DI thru a dbx 163x and tell me that ain't way usable - it totally is!), and I do it often. And now I've a PF50t and I can go DI post-tranny and it sounds great.
But a amp, a amp, a amp - my kingdumb for a amp - I'd almost always rather play thru a mic'd amp because ... I play rock and roll bass.
YMMVWFV
"Why use an amp for recording?"
1. volume;
2. tone;
3. interaction between amp, bass and player; and,
4. sound.
I get what I think are great results goin' DI, through pre's (The Brick, Meeks, Summit, etc.) and FX pedals and modelers (Tech 21, Vox, Zoom, etc.) and other gear (example - record DI thru a dbx 163x and tell me that ain't way usable - it totally is!), and I do it often. And now I've a PF50t and I can go DI post-tranny and it sounds great.
But a amp, a amp, a amp - my kingdumb for a amp - I'd almost always rather play thru a mic'd amp because ... I play rock and roll bass.
YMMVWFV
I’ll second the suggestions of some others here who recommended the preamp/direct route. There’s several companies that make “Ampeg inspired” preamps (e.g. Tech21 SansAmp, ) that would be a lot easier to work with in a home recording environment and still get you that SVT/V4B vibe.
And if you still want more of a cab sound, there’s cab emulation pedals and DAW plug-ins you can use that will pretty accurately model a variety of different cabs. Much easier than trying to mike a stage amp’s speaker cab.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the sound of real amps. and really still like miking them for recording like we did back in the day. But with a home studio that’s not really a practical option for everyone. And FWIW, you can usually get a better bass track by recording both a miked amp and a direct feed and then mixing the two for your final bass track.
And now, with cab emulation and amp modeling you can get the same results far more easily. And without the risk of potentially pissing off your neighbors.
And if you still want more of a cab sound, there’s cab emulation pedals and DAW plug-ins you can use that will pretty accurately model a variety of different cabs. Much easier than trying to mike a stage amp’s speaker cab.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the sound of real amps. and really still like miking them for recording like we did back in the day. But with a home studio that’s not really a practical option for everyone. And FWIW, you can usually get a better bass track by recording both a miked amp and a direct feed and then mixing the two for your final bass track.
And now, with cab emulation and amp modeling you can get the same results far more easily. And without the risk of potentially pissing off your neighbors.
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Fair enough! It does it for me, I've been a beta tester for line6 helix for a while now - it's definitely possible to get teh depth, if you set it up right. but yea, if you can afford and are prepared to use the real thing, I'm all for it!
I have a V4BH sitting top of an 810 in an upstairs bedroom of my house that's in the middle of a fairly quiet neighborhood. No complaints yet! 
As already mentioned, it has a gain and a volume control and you can more than dial in a good tone at a lower volumes. Mine isn't the new reissue model, but close enough.
As already mentioned, it has a gain and a volume control and you can more than dial in a good tone at a lower volumes. Mine isn't the new reissue model, but close enough.
Just remember, absolutely no tone comes from the amp. It all comes from the fingers so really you should be looking for better fingers. Otherwise you will only sound like you.
Jokes aside, a v4b can sound amazing and is only as loud as the volume knob/cab make it. If you have a little (read: a lot of) volume latitude, go for it. The digital versions can be good but you will pay for one worth using.either way, good luck and let us know how it works out.
Jokes aside, a v4b can sound amazing and is only as loud as the volume knob/cab make it. If you have a little (read: a lot of) volume latitude, go for it. The digital versions can be good but you will pay for one worth using.either way, good luck and let us know how it works out.
I recommend an ashen with matching cab,, great for vintage tube tone at home and loud enough but neighbors wont get pissed
cheaper than a chinese v4b also
cheaper than a chinese v4b also
I have an original V4B and I've found it's not worth recording. It's a noisy amp and because of that, mic'ing or using its line out are not compelling. I have cleaner amps with great character that do much better and for DI I'm utterly pleased with my Drawmer 1960 lately.
Playing live is where that V4B shines!
Playing live is where that V4B shines!
I have the PF50T, V4B RI and an early 80s SVT. The PF50T sounds great thru the DI (It has 2 DIs , 1 normal, and 1 with all the goodness of the tubes) and as a previous post said only the PF50T can be used without a speaker load.
V4B and PF50T sound similar, the 50w is good for most cabs, the 100w just cooks a little more (it only has the 3 position midrange switch vs the 5 on the PF50T). If you are doing mostly recording and some gigs, get the PF50T , if you need Metal loudness the V4B, if you need to do demolition get the SVT.
V4B and PF50T sound similar, the 50w is good for most cabs, the 100w just cooks a little more (it only has the 3 position midrange switch vs the 5 on the PF50T). If you are doing mostly recording and some gigs, get the PF50T , if you need Metal loudness the V4B, if you need to do demolition get the SVT.
Not all load boxes are the same. For me the Fryette Power Station is the thing to have. It can handle 100 watt tube heads cranked and then you can get that to power a small cab at much lower volumes. In my case either a EA Wizzy or a Mesa Boogie Diesel 115. Then I mic with a Ribbon and an SM57. Sometime am EV RE20. But to be on the safe side, I also track direct and also take something out of the Power Station DI. I use my guitar tube heads. THD Single Ended Class A's are the best for power tube distortion but the late 60's Fender BandMaster head is sweet sounding when the tubes are working hard.
By the way, the guitarist in my hard rock group does a similar thing to you... he uses his various prized amp heads ($$$$ and up) into very carefully chosen cab sim loads and records direct from there for our current recording project. His guitar tone is great. My bass tone is insane. We're both very happy with our setups.
So just thought I'd throw in some validation for your way of doing things also. For me, the "depth" of the amp sims in the helix are 100% real in the recording, but I'm also a very experienced recording engineer and software engineer, two things that give me some help along the way with a device as easy to use yet very very deep to configure as the helix.
Best of luck to you in your final setup!
Sans amp. Cheap and pretty close to the ampeg sound. I record a DI out of my bass as well and use the two tracks in parallel.
I was going to suggest either trying a bass speaker cab, or load box with your Deluxe…which actually should be 22 watts of power. That would probably sound pretty good for recording bass through a proper cabinet.
You said you like the tone of the Fender rumble 40. I have a Fender Bassman 100t. It’s 100 watts and switchable to 25 watts. It’s tube and with my 2 15” cabs I love it. It may get the tone your after. Some people say it can be Ampeg like. If you can try it out.
Good luck!
Good luck!
This is an important point. However I'll say I just spent an hour A/Bing the V4B with a tone hammer 350 (totally different I know) and I gotta say I didn't really need much of what the Ampeg had to offer. Tube breakup was ok but I really prefer creamy warm tones that are more clean (treble rolled off). I found the Aguilar did this plenty. Ampegs controls didn't do much for me with the switches either but I'm kind of a troglodyte when it comes to bass amps.
My reference tone is JPJ on Zepp II( lemon song or ramble on). That's my most used based tone and I can sure get it from the Aguilar it seems. Problem solved!
Is this safe for the amp assuming I disconnect the internal speaker and use the correct impedance?
I would say, yes, make sure you run the correct impedance (it is a tube amp after all), and a cabinet designed for bass and you should be fine.
If 22 watts isn’t enough to get you what you need, you can always try other things with more power or headroom (or the previously mentioned load boxes).
